Video: UBC President Arvind Gupta talks about opportunities Special

Vancouver
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Dr. Arvind Gupta, the new President of the University of British Columbia, hopes to usher in much-needed change for the university. Unlike previous generations, investing in a university degree may not guarantee a high-paying job when students graduate.

With Vancouver rated as the most expensive city to live in North America, according to the 2014 rankings by The Economist, the annual Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey, students today face numerous economical challenges.

Digital Journal had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Arvind Gupta, the new UBC President and Vice-chancellor about points he made in his installation speech and his leadership in general.

It seems that UBC students are excited about their new president. Unlike the previous president Stephen Toope, Dr. Gupta embraces social media outlets, such as YouTube and Twitter, to not only interact with students on a personal level but to also learn about their successes and better understand the challenges they face.

Dr. Gupta participated in a student-led ALS ice bucket challenge asking before the countdown that it be a "long, slow pour." The video of the event is on the UBC Youtube channel with over 4100 views.

In the interview, Dr. Gupta says problems are really opportunities and that students are "change agents." He says students need to take opportunities to shape their future. He believes technology plays a key role in this goal.

"As a professor in Computer Science, I am very interested in the role of technology in giving us better learning outcomes. I see Flexible Learning in giving us very innovative technological tools to reach our students so that the classroom experience is enhanced." Dr. Arvind Gupta, UBC President

He points out how technology and the Internet have shrunk the world and how initiatives such as distance education and flexible learning are new ways of reaching people making UBC more accessible for students from all over the world. He believes that these initiatives will help "students gain more and more knowledge" so that professors can help them increase their ability to use this knowledge to make smarter decisions.

He discusses UBC entrepreneurship and connecting students with partnerships forged within the local and international community. He talks about how leadership is about listening to people and knowing when to admit you're wrong. His leadership is about listening to people and "being a part of the team and guiding others."

"We will stretch this portal–and shrink the world–fostering research-and-learning links across BC, Canada, and beyond."

Gupta's determination and entrepreneurial savvy are evident and his past successes as CEO and scientific director of Mitacs, a national non-profit organization that "builds partnerships between academia, industry, and the world – to create a more innovative Canada," make them reachable.